Tiny Custom Strider Delivers $15,800 from Las Vegas Mecum Auction
Being in the room during a live auction – especially one all about motorcycles and packed with like-minded people – is a thrilling happening. The energy is palpable, the buzz is real, and it’s no wonder people catch the bidding bug.
And so it was at the Mecum Auction held at Southpoint Casino in Las Vegas. The event went on all week from January 20 to 26 but my nerve-wracking day was January 24th. That’s when 3 Tiny Custom Striders, originally revealed to the riding public at the Flying Piston Builders Breakfast at the Buffalo Chip last August, rolled across the auction block.
Tiny bikes built by the late Jessi Combs,Todd “Gilby” Gilbertson, and Brian Klock generated $15,800
Total Awards at Mecum Auction
Tiny bikes built by the late Jessi Combs, Todd “Gilby” Gilbertson, and Brian Klock generated $15,800 with Jessi’s tiny board tracker ultimately selling for $11,000. The Klock Strider, a mini Suzuki racer patterned after a real bike built for Ricky Carmichael (and signed by him on the tank) went to Steve and Joan Klein for $1200. Gilby’s gold and chrome chopper brought $3600 from Jill Parham.
The only thing missing that thrilling day at the Mecum auction was Jessi herself. Her shocking death on August 27, 2019 as she raced to set a land speed record, still leaves a hole in the hearts and minds of car and motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide.
The only thing missing that thrilling day at the Mecum auction was Jessi herself.
Pat and Cris Simmons were the happy winners of the Jessi bike and that’s appropriate: Cris and Jessi had been close friends for years, sharing the stage most recently at the Buffalo Chip’s Biker Belles signature ride August 2019, just days after the bike was unveiled. Cris also owned a custom Harley Softail that Jessi had built for Biker Belles in 2013.
But her efforts and influence will continue to resonate when the money raised from the sale of the tiny boardtracker results in programs being installed in several kindergarten PE classes through AllKidsBike, teaching kids in those schools to ride bikes over the next five years.
That effort to build skills, confidence and new motorcycle riders among both girls and boys, is something Jessi championed. It’s our hope that her friends and family are pleased with this outcome.
The boardtracker and chopper headed directly to the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa, for display – to be joined by the Klock bike after motocross season ends.
2019 Flying Piston Benefit: Jessi Combs Builds Custom Stride
The Mecum Auction Winners
Details on the 3 Custom Bikes at Mecum Auction
- Flying Piston Benefit: Jessi Combs Builds Custom Stride –
- Flying Piston Benefit: Brian Klock Builds Custom Strider
- Flying Piston Benefit Builder: Todd “Gilby” Gilbertson
About Strider: Strider designs lightweight bikes that build two-wheeled balance, coordination, and confidence in children. Strider is helping kids learn to ride and developing new motorcycle riders through the AllKidsBike movement which makes bike-riding a part of kindergarten curriculum. www.allkidsbike.org, www.striderbikes.com
The 2019 Strider Custom Builder Class is: Todd “Gilby” Gilbertson, Jessi Combs, Xavier Muriel, Brian Klock, Steve Reed, Roy & Nikki Martin, James Washnok, Devin Henriques, Eric Hermann, Alumni of Motorcycle Missions and Count’s Kustoms’ Horny Mike, Shannon Aikau and Ryan Evans.
About Flying Piston Benefit:
The Flying Piston Charity Breakfast, presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, is a celebrity-strewn meet & greet held at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip by the Flying Piston Benefit. The Annual Breakfast brings together cutting-edge custom builders and motorcycle industry influencers to meet the public. Proceeds from the event have supported veterans suffering from PTSD and All Kids Bike, a program of the Strider Education Foundation whose goal is to teach all children to ride a bike as part of kindergarten P.E. class.
In 2018, an initiative with Strider Sports International sent stock, 12” Strider bikes to top name builders for customization. The Strider Customs were unveiled at that year’s Breakfast during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It was the first stop on their year-long tour that culminated at the prestigious Mecum Motorcycle Auction in Las Vegas where the tiny customs were auctioned to much acclaim. The program drew stellar attention both in and out of the motorcycle industry and custom builders lined up to participate.
A new class of Flying Piston Strider Customs is revealed each year at the Builder breakfast
The Flying Piston Benefit is produced by Marilyn Stemp of Iron Trader News and Jeff Najar from Horsepower Marketing, a marketing and promotions company to raise awareness and funds for non-profits and individuals in the biker community. Each year the Flying Piston Benefit hosts a builders breakfast at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip the first Sunday of Sturgis Rally. Contact: the team or Marilyn Stemp, 828-205-8482, marilynstemp@gmail.com or www.flyingpistonbenefit.com for details.
